Eastern Conference Semifinals Preview

Written by: William Petersen •

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4 Cleveland Cavaliers lead 5 Orlando Magic, 3-2

The Cleveland and Orlando series has been a back and forth contest that could end tonight in Orlando if the Cavs can find a way to be the first team in this series to win a game on the road. Cleveland started out this series strong, taking a 2-0 series lead but quickly fell apart in Orlando losing by double digits in games three and four. Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell has been a spitting image of Dr. Jeckel and Mr. Hyde after failing to show up on the road but rebounded in game five after starting slow, finishing with 28 points. If Cleveland wants to close out this series tonight, they will need a solid performance from Mitchell as well as Darius Garland, and the rest of the supporting cast, especially after barely edging out their 104-103 victory in game 5. Orlando has continued to surprise the league after securing the fifth seed in the East and giving the Cavaliers a run after Paolo Banchero has averaged almost 25 points per game so far this postseason. Banchero will need to lead the way if the Magic are going to have any chance of forcing a game 7 but the good news for Magic fans is their squad has dominated both home games so far this series. I expect this game to either go in favor of the Magic by double digits or the Cavs to win by less than five. Either way this will be a heck of a game six and will hopefully be the first series to go to seven games in this year's playoffs.

Game 1: Cavaliers 97, Magic 83

Game 2: Cavaliers 96, Magic 86

Game 3: Magic 121, Cavaliers 83

Game 4: Magic 112, Cavaliers 89

Game 5: Cavaliers 104, Magic 103

Game 6: Friday 5/3 in Orlando 7 PM ET, ESPN

Game 7: Sunday 5/5 in Cleveland 1 PM ET, ABC (if necessary)

2 New York Knicks beat 7 Philadelphia 76ers, 4-2

The premiere matchup of the first round in the Eastern Conference was between old rivals, the New York Knicks who played host to the Philadelphia 76ers who were finally getting consistent minutes from reigning MVP Joel Embiid. The Sixers star center started strong after coming back from a left knee injury that kept him out for the majority of the regular season but was unable to split the first two games in Madison Square Garden and found themselves in an early 2-0 hole to the 2nd seeded Knicks. The Knicks found success early in this series thanks to star point guard Jalen Brunson who averaged 35.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 9 assists in a series that had four games be decided by single digits, two of them by three points. Tyrese Maxey picked up the majority of the 76ers' slack; averaging 29.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 6.8 assists. Maxey showed why he was voted as the NBA’s Most Improved Player after keeping the Sixers in a playoff spot but the Sixers did not have enough complimentary fire power to support Maxey and Embiid enough to push them past the Knicks. New York will continue to lean on Brunson as well as Josh Hart, who averaged 16.8 points, 12.3 rebounds, and 4.5 assists and Donte DiVincenzo, 12 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists in a series that could have easily gone to seven games. The Knicks now look to host the six seeded Indiana Pacers who closed out the Milwaukee Bucks in six games on Thursday night.

Game 1: Knicks 111, 76ers 104

Game 2: Knicks 104, 76ers 101

Game 3: 76ers 125, Knicks 114

Game 4: Knicks 97, 76ers 92

Game 5: 76ers 112, Knicks 106 (OT)

Game 6: Knicks 118, 76ers 115

6 Indiana Pacers beat 3 Milwaukee Bucks, 4-2

Many thought that the Pacers did not have enough playoff experience to hang with a Giannis-less Bucks squad after Damian Lillard dropped 35 in the first half and the Bucks cruised to a 15 point win in game 1. The tide quickly shifted as the Pacers responded by winning games two, three, and four to take a commanding 3-1 series lead heading back to Milwaukee for game 5. It was very apparent that Milwaukee missed Giannis and the presence he brings to the court, but the Bucks showed a resilience that needs to be applauded after winning game 5 without Lillard 115-92. The Pacers would ultimately close out the series in Indiana after pounding the Bucks by 22 thanks to Pascal Siakam who had 19 points and 7 rebounds along with Tyrese Haliburton who dropped 17 points and 10 assists. This young Pacers squad will continue to be tested as they travel to the Big Apple for a date with the New York Knicks. Keep an eye out for the matchup between Jalen Brunson and Tyrese Haliburton as whoever dominates this matchup could end up being the x-factor in who wins this series.

Game 1: Bucks 109, Pacers 94

Game 2: Pacers 125, Bucks 108

Game 3: Pacers 121, Bucks 118 (OT)

Game 4: Pacers 126, Bucks 113

Game 5: Bucks 115, Pacers 92

Game 6: Pacers 120, Bucks 98

1 Boston Celtics beat 8 Miami Heat, 4-1

The NBA Playoffs have been nothing short of exciting after the two of the first four matchups in the East have been closed out following a nearly dominant run by the Celtics and a gritty Knicks win over a banged up 76ers squad. The Celtics seemingly handled business in five games against a Jimmy Butler-less Miami Heat team that ended up shocking a lot of the NBA after upsetting Boston in game two 111-101. The Celtics bounced back after splitting the first two games at home, and closed out a short-changed Heat team in five games thanks to Derrick White’s steady offensive production throughout the series. White averaged 22.4 points, second most on the roster behind Jaylen Brown, and was the x-factor in game four after pouring in a playoff career-high 38 points in their game four win in Miami. White has been a great third addition to stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown who have continued to have early postseason success, both averaging close to 22 points per game in the first round. The Celtics now await the winner of the Orlando and Cleveland series which sits at 3-2 in favor of the Cavaliers. The Celtics were and are still the favorites to hoist the Larry O’Brian Trophy in June even though they had an early hiccup at home and could be missing Kristaps Porzingis for extended time after he suffered a right soleus strain in game 4, the same injury that has kept Giannis Antetokounmpo out of the Bucks/Pacers series. Expect the Celtics to hold true and win the Eastern Conference, which would give Boston their 23rd Finals appearance in franchise history and their second in the last three seasons.

Game 1: Celtics 114, Heat 94

Game 2: Heat 111, Celtics 101

Game 3: Celtics 104, Heat 84

Game 4: Celtics 102, Heat 88

Game 5: Celtics 118, Heat 84

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